CarCare
replace brake shoes removal

Brakes are a vehicle's most important part. They probably have the toughest job: stopping thousands of pounds of metal, plastic, flesh and bone that can travel at high speeds.

Brake Check
These symptoms can indicate brake problems:


> The car pulling to one side during braking.


> Squeaks, grinding or other noises when the brakes are applied.


> The pedal goes farther toward the floor than normal.

Continued on Page 2

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Photo Guide
drum removal techniques
If the drum won't pull off, use penetrating oil, a hammer, or retract the shoes by accessing the adjuster through the backing plate.
brake parts inspection
Inspect all brake parts for signs of wear and fluid leakage, then spray everything with brake-parts cleaner. Many parts stores will "turn" drums with the purchase of new shoes. These drums had previously been turned, and the remaining lining thickness wasn't up to spec.
return spring removal from actuator
Leave one side assembled for reference while working on the other. Begin by removing the return springs from the actuator. A special tool is available to make this easier than shown here.
unhook actuator link from anchor pin
Unhook the actuator link from the anchor pin and secondary (rearward) shoe.
remove hold-down spring assembly
Remove the hold-down spring assemblies. A special tool is also made to expedite this.
remove actuator springs assembly
Remove the actuator/springs assembly.
remove adjustor and parking brake strut
Remove the adjuster, noting which direction it faces, and then the parking brake strut (above the hub and under the wheel cylinder). Clean the adjuster, then lubricate its threads with high-temp grease.
brake shoe removal
Remove the old shoes, unclipping one of them from the e-brake actuator if necessary.
uneven brake shoe wear
These shoes didn't wear evenly. A frozen adjuster screw allowed only one shoe (right) to actually make contact with the drum.
cleaning drum brake backing plate
Clean the backing plate with brake-parts cleaner, smooth the shoe-contact points with emery cloth, then lube these areas with high-temp grease.
install new brake shoes
Reverse the disassembly process to install the new shoes, taking care to keep the lining surfaces clean.
new drum brakes assembly and install
This job included new drums. The shoes were retracted with the adjuster screw so that the drum would slide on easily.



Related Articles
Rear Drum Brake Diagnosis
Brake Shoe Replacement
Brake Boost
Brake Noise
Replacement Rotors


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